It's nothing that came as a surprise. Pete's Wednesday appointment with the local oncologist, Dr. W, has been cancelled and replaced with a Friday appointment (Aug 6) with Dr. K at MSKCC. Beyond that, I don't know anything else.
I have been doing research on the web and corresponding with folks via the Sarcoma Alliance message boards and chat. I've gathered some information about new treatments that show promise in fighting chemo-resistant sarcomas. One drug that is very interesting is Rexin-G, developed using nanoparticles. It is in trials by Dr. Sant P. Chawla in Santa Monica, CA. This drug has been granted Orphan Drug status by the FDA.
Etoposide is another drug, though this one seems to have some side effects that may be cause for concern.
Cryotherapy, which is the use of extreme cold (cryo) to remove tissue (ablation), is another option to discuss with Pete's oncologists. Dr. Littrup in Detroit and Dr. Dupuy in RI are regarded as tops in the field of applying this technique to remove non-responsive tumors in the lungs to allow more time to find a chemo agent to which all the tumors will respond. Not long ago, Pete's father had arranged for him to have an appointment with a doctor in north Jersey who specializes in RFA (RadioFrequency Ablation) using heat as opposed to cold to destroy the cancerous tissue, but the doctor had concurred with Pete's oncologists, who had recommended standard surgery to remove his lung mets. This was before the latest CT scan showing that at least one tumor had apparently decided to grow, despite 4 subsequent rounds of DTIC, to which it had previously responded so well.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Latest Scan Report - July 27, 2010
I haven’t added anything to this blog in some time. The CT scan had given such hope when the report indicated this latest chemo had shrunk the lesions so significantly. He’s had 4 more rounds of that same chemo, and then last Wednesday he had another CT scan. Things are not as bright with this report.
Pete had begun complaining about a pain in the area of his left shoulder blade a couple of weeks ago. He had a similar pain some time back before starting the DTIC chemo and the doctors attributed the pain to one of the tumors as it was pressing against a nerve. On Sunday, Pete had mentioned that he was going to put a call into the doctor because the pain was increasing in severity and it had expanded to the area under his arm and around to his chest.
He just returned from an appointment with Dr. W and now has a copy of the latest CT report. While most of the remaining lesions continued to decrease in size, and one is no longer visible, it seems a new one, though very small, has been identified. The tumor that had previously been identified as pressing against the nerve and causing the discomfort, though, has increased in size, which would account for the resumption of pain.
His next round of chemo is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4. Dr. W said that he would be consulting with Dr. K at MSKCC to determine what course of action should be taken next. As of right now, Pete has been getting the maximum dose of DTIC, so that can’t be increased. Dr. W told him that there may be some other compound that they might include along with the current chemo, but he also mentioned the possibility of finding a clinical trial. I guess we’ll learn more on Wednesday.
Pete had begun complaining about a pain in the area of his left shoulder blade a couple of weeks ago. He had a similar pain some time back before starting the DTIC chemo and the doctors attributed the pain to one of the tumors as it was pressing against a nerve. On Sunday, Pete had mentioned that he was going to put a call into the doctor because the pain was increasing in severity and it had expanded to the area under his arm and around to his chest.
He just returned from an appointment with Dr. W and now has a copy of the latest CT report. While most of the remaining lesions continued to decrease in size, and one is no longer visible, it seems a new one, though very small, has been identified. The tumor that had previously been identified as pressing against the nerve and causing the discomfort, though, has increased in size, which would account for the resumption of pain.
His next round of chemo is scheduled for Wednesday, August 4. Dr. W said that he would be consulting with Dr. K at MSKCC to determine what course of action should be taken next. As of right now, Pete has been getting the maximum dose of DTIC, so that can’t be increased. Dr. W told him that there may be some other compound that they might include along with the current chemo, but he also mentioned the possibility of finding a clinical trial. I guess we’ll learn more on Wednesday.
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